National Intercollegiate Rugby Association

National Intercollegiate
Rugby Association

Abbreviation| NIRA
Formation| 2015; 10 years ago (2015)
Legal status| Association

Region served

| United States

Official language

| English

Commissioner

| Amy Rusert

Main organ

| Board of Directors
Website| nira.rugby

The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) is a governing body of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) collegiate women's rugby programs in the United States founded in 2015.

## History

[edit]

The NIRA traces roots back to 2015 when eight NCAA member institutions formed the National Collegiate Varsity Women’s Rugby Association (NCVWRA) to organize collegiate competition and aid in the promotion of rugby at the varsity level in the NCAA after rugby was promoted to Emerging Sport status.[1][2]

Inaugural members of the association included Army, Bowdoin, Brown, Central Washington, Harvard, Norwich, Quinnipiac, and West Chester. Membership in the organization is limited to NCAA institutions who sponsor women’s rugby at the varsity level.[2] In 2016 the association became known as the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA).[3]

## Members

[edit]

As of April, 2025:[4]

### Division I

[edit]

Club  | Location  | Nickname  | Type  | Joined  | Coach

|
|
|
|
|

Army West Point | West Point, New York | Black Knights | Service Academy | 2018 | Jenn Salomon-Clayton
Brown University | Providence, Rhode Island | Bears | Private | 2018 | Rosalind Chou
Dartmouth College | Hanover, New Hampshire | Big Green | Private | 2018 | Katie Dowty
Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Crimson | Private | 2018 | Mel Denham
Lindenwood University | St. Charles, Missouri | Lions | Private | 2024 | Trevor Locke
Long Island University | Brooklyn / Brookville, NY | Sharks | Private | 2018 | Dee Nash
Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg, Maryland | Mountaineers | Private | 2018 | Maggie Myles
Navy | Annapolis, Maryland | Midshipmen | Service Academy | 2023 | Murph McCarthy
Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey | Tigers | Private | 2022 | Josie Ziluca[5]
Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | Royals | Private | 2023 | Danny Harlow
Quinnipiac University | Hamden, Connecticut | Bobcats | Private | 2018 | Becky Carlson
Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, Connecticut | Pioneers | Private | 2018 | Michelle Reed

### Division II

[edit]

Club  | Location  | Nickname  | Type  | Joined  | Coach

|
|
|
|
|

American International College | Springfield, Massachusetts | Yellow Jackets | Private | 2018 | Denver Divens
Davenport University | Michigan | Panthers | Private | 2022 | Greg Teliczan
Emory and Henry University | Emory, Virginia | Wasps | Private | 2023 | Tom O'Neill
Frostburg State University | Frostburg, Maryland | Bobcats | Public | 2023 | Jeff Horton
Newberry College | Newberry, South Carolina | Wolves | Private | 2022 | Eric Enright
University of New Haven | West Haven, Connecticut | Chargers | Private | 2021 | Emily Record
West Chester University | Chester County, Pennsylvania | Golden Rams | Public | 2018 | Tony Deremer

### Division III

[edit]

Club  | Location  | Nickname  | Type  | Joined  | Coach

|
|
|
|
|

Bowdoin College | Brunswick, Maine | Polar Bears | Private | 2018 | Laura Miller
Guilford College | Greensboro, North Carolina | Quakers | Private | 2020 | Christine Newcomb
University of New England | Biddeford, Maine | Nor'easters | Private | 2018 | Ashley Potvin-Fulford
Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa, NC | Owls | Private | 2023 | Angelica Rodriguez

## Championship finals

[edit]

### Division I

[edit]

Ed.  | Year  | Winner  | Score  | Runner-up  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

| 2015 | Quinnipiac (1) |

24–19

| Army | [6]

| 2016 | Quinnipiac (2) |

46–24

| Central Washington | [7]

| 2017 | Quinnipiac (3) |

29–20

| Dartmouth | [8]

| 2018 | Dartmouth (1) |

19–14

| Harvard | [9]

| 2019 | Harvard (1) |

18–7

| Army | [10]

| 2020 |

(not held due to covid-19 pandemic)

| 2021 | Dartmouth (2) |

28–18

| Army | [11][12]

| 2022 | Dartmouth (3) |

15–10

| Harvard | [12][13]

| 2023 | Harvard (2) |

20–12

| Dartmouth | [14]

| 2024 | Harvard (3) |

19–12

| Dartmouth | [15]

### Division II

[edit]

* 2024 – American International 20–15 Davenport[16]
* 2023 – Davenport 91–5 Lander[17]
* 2022 – Queens 34–27 Davenport[18]
* 2021 – American International 29–17 West Chester[19]
* 2019 – West Chester 15–14 Brown[20]
* 2018 – Mount St. Mary's 22–15 Sacred Heart[21]
* 2017 – University of New England 57–14 Bowdoin[22]
* 2016 – Bowdoin College 32–22 University of New England[23]

### Division III

[edit]

* 2023 – Bowdoin 51–17 Adrian[24]
* 2022 – Bowdoin 29–0 University of New England[25]
* 2021 – Bowdoin 31–12 University of New England[26]
* 2019 – Bowdoin College 27–5 University of New England [27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Emerging Sports for Women". www.ncaa.org. NCAA. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
2. ^ a b Young, Wendy (September 11, 2014). "National Collegiate Varsity Women's Rugby Association (NCVWRA) Formed". Your Scrumhalf Connection. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
3. ^ "Women's Intercollegiate Season Starts with 2015 Final Rematch". Goff Rugby Report. Aug 31, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-02. "What was the NCWVRA [National Collegiate Women's Varsity Rugby Association] is now the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association."
4. ^ Teams at NIRA website, April 3, 2025
5. ^ "Women's Rugby". Princeton Tigers. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
6. ^ Finlan, Jackie (November 22, 2015). "Quinnipiac, First Varsity Champion". The Goff Rugby Report. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
7. ^ "Back-to-Back! QU Women's Rugby Defeats CWU To Repeat As National Champions". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
8. ^ "QU Women's Rugby Captures Third Straight National Title, Downs Dartmouth 29-20". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
9. ^ "Dartmouth Claims Program's First NIRA Championship". USA Rugby. Archived from the original on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
10. ^ "Women's Rugby Crowned NIRA National Champions After Victory Over Army West Point, 18–7". Harvard Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
11. ^ Hanover for Second Time By: Charlotte Brackett, 20 Nov 2021
12. ^ a b Women's Rugby to Host Two-Time Defending NIRA Champion Dartmouth at Goprincetontigers, 23 Sep 2023
13. ^ Big Green Repeat as Division I NIRA Champions at darthmouthsports.com, 19 Nov 2022
14. ^ Champions! #1 Women's Rugby Captures 2023 NCAA DI Championship With 20-12 Win Against #2 Dartmouth at Gocrimson.com
15. ^ "Champions Once Again! Harvard Secures Back-to-Back NIRA DI Championships with 19-12 Victory Over Dartmouth". Harvard University. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
16. ^ "NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AGAIN! Women's Rugby overpowers Davenport for second NIRA crown in four years". 23 November 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
17. ^ "Panthers crowned as NIRA National Champions". Davenport University Athletics. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
18. ^ "Queens Women's Rugby Claims First NIRA Championship". Queens University of Charlotte Athletics. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
19. ^ "WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Women's rugby dethrones West Chester to earn NIRA Title". 21 November 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
20. ^ @NIRArugby (17 November 2019). "Brown in possession but it's not enough. Final WCU 15 Brown 14" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
21. ^ "CHAMPIONS! Mount Women's Rugby Holds off Sacred Heart, 22-15, for the NIRA Tier II Championship - Mount St. Mary's". Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
22. ^ "Nor'easters handle Bowdoin, 57-14, in NIRA Cup Championship". University of New England Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
23. ^ "Women's Rugby Mounts Huge Rally To Tip UNE In Season Finale". Bowdoin College. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
24. ^ "Women's Rugby Wins Fourth Straight NIRA Division III Championship". Bowdoin College. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
25. ^ "THREE-PEAT! Women's Rugby Wins Third-Straight NIRA Division III Crown". Bowdoin College. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
26. ^ "Women's Rugby Completes Perfect Season With Second Straight NIRA Championship". Bowdoin College. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
27. ^ "Women's Rugby Runs Away From UNE to Claim NIRA Division III Title". Bowdoin Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2021-10-15.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

National Intercollegiate Rugby Association

Division 1|

* Army Black Knights
* Brown Bears
* Dartmouth Big Green
* Harvard Crimson
* Long Island Sharks
* Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers
* Navy Midshipmen
* Princeton Tigers
* Quinnipiac Bobcats
* Sacred Heart Pioneers

Division 2|

* American International Yellow Jackets
* Molloy Lions
* New Haven Chargers
* Notre Dame College Falcons
* Post Eagles
* Queens Royals
* West Chester Golden Rams

Division 3|

* Bowdoin Polar Bears
* Colby–Sawyer Chargers
* Guilford Quakers
* Manhattanville Valiants
* New England College Pilgrims
* Norwich Cadets
* University of New England Nor'easters
* Vermont State Castleton Spartans

Future teams|

* Adrian Bulldogs

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in the United States

Governing body|

* USA Rugby

Geographical Unions|

* Capital
* Carolinas
* Empire
* Eastern Pennsylvania
* Florida
* Mid-America
* New England
* Northern California
* Pacific Northwest
* Rocky Mountain
* Southern California
* Texas
* True South

National teams|

| Men's|

* Eagles (Results)
* USA Falcons
* All Americans
* U-20
* U-19
* 7s

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7s

Competitions|

| International|

* U.S. at the Rugby World Cup
* Americas Rugby Championship
* Global Rapid Rugby

|

Domestic|

* Major League Rugby
* Women's Elite Rugby
* Women's Premier League Rugby
* Premier Rugby Sevens
* USA Rugby Club 7s
* Midwest Rugby Premiership
* Pacific Rugby Premiership
* National Rugby Football League
* USA Club Rugby XVs

College|

| Bodies|

* NCR
* NIRA

|

Conferences|

* Colonial Coast
* East Coast
* Heart of America
* Ivy
* Northeast
* PAC
* Potomac
* Red River
* Southeastern

Competitions|

* Division 1-A
* Results
* NCR Champions Cup
* NCR Nationals
* Collegiate Championship (7s)
* USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships (7s)

Hosted events|

* 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Americas Rugby Championship
* USA Sevens
* USA Women's Sevens

Defunct|

| International|

* Churchill Cup
* North America 4
* Pacific Rim Championship
* PARA Pan American Championship

|

Club|

* Elite Cup
* PRO Rugby
* Rugby Super League

College|

* Atlantic Coast League
* Bowl Series
* Varsity Cup

Related articles|

* American flag rugby
* History
* First match
* International players
* Comparison with American football
* Rugby union in American Samoa
* Rugby union in Guam
* Rugby union in the US Virgin Islands
* Stanford rugby teams (1906–17)
* USA Rugby South

* Category
* Commons

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